What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy and Could It Help You or Your Child?
Have you ever wondered why a child continues to breathe through their mouth, struggles to produce certain sounds clearly, or has difficulty keeping their tongue in a comfortable resting position? Perhaps you are an adult experiencing similar concerns, including tension, swallowing difficulties, or oral habits that have been hard to change.
These concerns may involve the way the muscles of the mouth, tongue, lips, and face work together. Orofacial myofunctional therapy can help identify these patterns and build healthier, more efficient oral function.
What is orofacial myofunctional therapy?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy, often called OMT, is an individualized therapy approach focused on the muscles and movement patterns of the face and mouth.
Treatment may address:
Tongue resting posture
Lip closure and oral rest posture
Nasal-breathing habits when medically appropriate
Chewing and swallowing patterns
Tongue thrust
Oral habits such as prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use
Speech sound concerns connected to oral motor patterns
Functional support before or after a tongue tie procedure
The goal is not simply to complete exercises. It is to help new patterns become comfortable and useful during everyday activities such as speaking, eating, swallowing, resting, and sleeping.
Signs that an evaluation may be helpful
Every person is different, and one sign alone does not necessarily indicate a disorder. However, an evaluation may be worth considering when you notice:
An open mouth resting posture
Frequent mouth breathing
Difficulty keeping the lips comfortably closed at rest
A tongue that rests against or between the teeth
Tongue thrust during swallowing
Persistent difficulty producing certain speech sounds
Messy, slow, or uncomfortable eating
Difficulty moving food efficiently in the mouth
Dental or orthodontic concerns that repeatedly return
A history of prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use
Concerns about a possible tongue tie
Snoring, restless sleep, or other breathing concerns that require medical evaluation
Because breathing, dental development, speech, and swallowing can be interconnected, collaboration is often important. Depending on the individual’s needs, care may include communication with a dentist, orthodontist, pediatrician, ENT, oral surgeon, lactation professional, or another healthcare provider.
What happens during an evaluation?
An evaluation begins with listening. We discuss your concerns, relevant medical and developmental history, and the changes you hope to see.
The assessment may examine breathing patterns, oral resting posture, tongue and lip movement, speech production, chewing, swallowing, and oral habits. For children, activities are presented in a comfortable, age appropriate approach.
Afterward, the findings are explained in clear language and recommendations for an appropriate next steps. Therapy is never one-size-fits-all. Recommendations are based on the person’s functional needs, readiness, and overall care plan.
What does therapy look like?
Sessions are supportive, practical, and designed to build awareness without creating anxiety. Clients learn specific strategies and gradually practice them in increasingly natural situation.
Children might use mirrors, visual cues, games, or simple practice activities. Adults receive exercises and strategies that fit realistically into their daily routines. Short, consistent, and necessary, home practice is often more helpful than occasional lengthy practice.
Progress takes time because we are working to change patterns the body may have used for many years. The process should feel collaborative, achievable, and connected to meaningful everyday goals.
Support for children and adults.
Orofacial myofunctional concerns are not limited to one age group. Children may benefit when oral patterns affect speech, eating, dental development, or oral habits. Teenagers and adults may seek support alongside orthodontic treatment, after a tongue tie procedure, or when addressing long-standing swallowing and resting posture patterns.
The best time to begin depends on the person’s needs, development, motivatgion, and any underlying medical or structural concerns.
Take the next step
If something about your child’s speech, breathing habits, oral posture, or swallowing does not seem quite right, or if you have similar concerns yourself, you do not have to determine the cause alone.
At Coastal Orofacial Wellness, I provide thoughtful, individualized care for children and adults throughout Palm Beach and Martin counties. When appropriate, I also collaborate with other professionals to help create a coordinated plan of care.
Breath better. Speak clearly. Read confidently. Thrive.
To learn whether an evaluation may be appropriate, select Contact Marianne. Medical and dental profesionals may use the Refer a Patient button to begin a referral.
